Bend, Not Break

Bend, Not Break: A Life in Two Worlds is a 2012 memoir by Ping Fu, with co-author MeiMei Fox. The book tells stories from Fu's life, starting with her childhood in China at the dawn of the Cultural Revolution, and continuing through her role as co-founder and CEO of Geomagic, a 3D graphics software development company in the United States. The book was first published in English on December 31, 2012 through Portfolio Hardcover.[1]

Bend, Not Break: A Life in Two Worlds
2012 first edition hardcover
AuthorPing Fu, MeiMei Fox
SubjectMemoir
GenreNon-fiction
PublisherPortfolio Hardcover
Published in English
December 31, 2012
Pages288 pages
ISBN1591845521

Several weeks after publication, the book became the focus of controversy over claims by Chinese bloggers, and commenters from both China and America, that Fu had exaggerated or falsified some of the stories from her life in China.[2][3] Fu has denied falsifying her stories, but has acknowledged some errors in the book, and has committed to correcting them in the next printing.[4]

Synopsis

The book narrates the life of Ping Fu, a computer scientist from China. Fu spent her early years caring for her younger sister after her parents were taken away for re-education through labor, as well as working in factories and spending time in the military. After the end of the Cultural Revolution, Fu attended Suzhou Teacher's College, where she's later deported to the United States for the contents of her thesis. Once in America, Fu worked her way through college in a variety of jobs and eventually gained a BA in Computer Science & Economics through the University of California, San Diego. From there she worked for the National Center for Supercomputing Applications and later formed Geomagic.

Reception

Critical reception for Bend, Not Break was initially positive,[5][6] with The Christian Science Monitor calling it an "inspiring and energetic tale of how a scared little girl learned to draw down hard on her inner resources and build on every small kindness that came her way".[7] The book has garnered positive reviews from Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, and Oprah.com,[8][9] with the Oprah.com reviewer stating that it was "devastating and transformative".[10] A journalist for the China Daily heavily criticized the book, commenting that "The book may have its truthful elements, but to most Chinese readers it seems that the majority of the facts have been bent too much to be believable."[11]

Consumer reaction has varied, with the book's Amazon rating decreasing dramatically after controversy over the book's content gained media attention.[12][13] The Daily Beast credits the numerous one-star Amazon ratings and the wider internet attacks to "internet vigilantes."[13]

Bend, Not Break has received criticism over some of its content, with some detractors questioning the validity and truthfulness of some passages and making Fu the subject of a Human Flesh Search campaign.[13][14] Some Chinese readers brought up several inconsistencies between claims made in the book and things Fu had mentioned in interviews, particularly those concerning her early years.[12] Author and scientist Fang Zhouzi voiced disbelief over a claim in the book that Fu had witnessed a teacher get "torn apart by four horses", saying that there was "no evidence to suggest that such a barbaric act ever took place" and considered it "an unlikely practice at that time in China’s history".[15]

Fu has defended herself against the accusations and acknowledged that some details were inaccurate, but did not do so intentionally and that some portions were changed through the suggestion of her co-author and editors.[12] She later posted an article on the Huffington Post clarifying several of the book's elements that Zhouzi and others claimed were false.[16] Adrian Zackheim, president of Portfolio Hardcover has defended Fu and the book, stating that he had "absolute confidence" and further stated "I have no doubts that the book is substantially correct and that attempts to pick apart elements of it are political attacks."[17]

References
  1. Fu, Ping (2012-12-31). "Bend, Not Break: A Life in Two Worlds". New York Journal of Books. Retrieved 2013-03-15.
  2. Goudreau, Jenna (2012-04-18). "'Bend, Not Break' Author Ping Fu Responds To Backlash". Forbes. Retrieved 2013-03-15.
  3. Flannery, Russell (2012-04-18). "One Bold And Controversial Lady: "Bend, Not Break" Author Ping Fu". Forbes. Retrieved 2013-03-15.
  4. DIDI KIRSTEN TATLOW (February 20, 2013). "Ensnared in the Trap of Memory". The New York Times.
  5. "The Art Of Resilience". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
  6. "Bend Not Break: Enduring Mao's China Led Geomagic's Ping Fu To See The World In 3D". Forbes. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
  7. "Review: Bend, Not Break". CS Monitor. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
  8. "Review: Bend, Not Break". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
  9. "Review: Bend, Not Break". Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
  10. "New Memoirs So Powerful They'll Turn Your Life Inside Out". Oprah. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
  11. "Fabrications fail as world flattens". China Daily. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
  12. Branigan, Tania; Pilkington, Ed (4 February 2013). "Chinese cast doubt over executive's rags to riches tale". London: Guardian. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
  13. "Ping Fu Defends 'Bend, Not Break' Memoir Against Online Chinese Attack". The Daily Beast. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
  14. "True or False? The Tussle Over Ping Fu's Memoir". The New York Times. 20 February 2013. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
  15. Capon, Felicity (5 February 2013). "Doubts over Chinese author lauded by Michelle Obama". London: Telegraph. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
  16. Fu, P (2013-02-01). "Clarifying the Facts in Bend, Not Break". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 2013-02-17.
  17. Branigan, Tania; Pilkington, Ed (13 February 2013). "Ping Fu's childhood tales of China's cultural revolution spark controversy". London: Guardian. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
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